Praying for Patience?

I am a woman who has taught many and a woman who is being taught daily. The strengths in my life are gained through the training that my Father gives me. I have great leaders that train me to lead. And so is the cycle of Christianity. The Father trains us, we train another, who trains another. All of this is from our Father through His Word, the Bible.

I have recently gone through a season of training that has left me in a place of divine understanding. It is this understanding that I would like to share with you.

For years I avoided patience as much as possible. I stayed clear of her and hoped that I had enough of her to make it through each trial and test that I happened upon. At one time someone told me that God was pouring patience out on my life. I was thankful but also a bit concerned. As a young Christian woman I was told incorrectly to beware of praying for patience as it led to trials. I foolishly accepted this as truth, rather than looking in the Bible to check this statement. As a result I embraced patience rarely. Mostly I urgently prayed and believed God for quick answers to my prayers and requests for both myself and others.

I have come to realize that this makes for a weak Christian. It creates a tree thats roots are quickly uprooted in the storms of life. I found myself often in tears. I found myself often questioning and wondering, why? I now know that I was rejecting a partner in faith that I so desperately needed for success in life. Her name is patience and she is beautiful. She is virtue. She is life from God. She is a part of endurance. She is the reason that having done all to stand, that I am able to stand therefore. Without her the storms of life toss me to and fro. She is an intricate part of wisdom..for it is wisdom to have patience.

Proverbs 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

I have tried to convince people quickly using knowledge rather than using patience. I have invited wisdom all the while avoiding patience and wondered why I failed...not realizing that it is wisdom to have patience. I have held on tightly through the storms cried out to God for relief never once asking patience to join me in holding on until God completed His work in me. Hebrews 12:1, tells us to run the race set before us with patience. This race must be done with patience. We need her. We need patience. All those who told us not to pray for patience were wrong. We must not only ask for patience but respect patience and let her have her way in us. Romans 8 tells us if we hope for something we don't see we are to wait with patience for it.

Please hear my voice concerning patience. She is a great attribute, she is much needed. Invite her, don't be afraid. Without her you won't make it. With her you will succeed and gain strength. With her you'll overcome. Get a visual picture of patience standing next to you. She is strong and beautiful. She comes from God. She is a treasure. Hebrews 6:12 Tells us not to be slothful or lazy for the promises are inherited through faith and patience. If you have been fighting up against patience and have been complaining in the wait like I have...then repent with me and invite patience to have her perfect work in you that you might be perfect and entire and wanting nothing. (Romans 1:4) God bless you and may you find that this truth brings healing and restoration to your life as it has to mine.